Hebrew Literature Part 21

3. The generation of the deluge has no portion in the world to come, and they stand not in judgment, as is said, "My Spirit shall not always strive with man."(417) (They have) neither judgment nor spirit. The generation of the dispersion has no portion in the world to come, as is said, "So the Lord scattered them abroad from thence upon the face of all the earth."(418) And the Lord scattered them in this world, and from thence the Lord scattered them in the world to come. The men of Sodom have no portion in the world to come, as is said, "But the men of Sodom were wicked and sinners before the Lord exceedingly,"(419) wicked in this world, and sinners in the world to come. But they will stand in judgment.

R. Nehemiah said, "neither one nor other will stand in judgment," as is said, "Therefore the unG.o.dly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous."(420) "Therefore the wicked shall not stand in judgment;" this is the generation of the deluge: "Nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous;" these are the men of Sodom. The (Sages) said to him, "they do not stand in the congregation of the righteous, but they stand in the congregation of the wicked." The spies have no portion in the world to come, as is said, "Even those men that did bring up the evil report upon the land, died by the plague before the Lord."(421) And they died in this world. They also died in the plague in the world to come. "The generation of the wilderness has no portion in the world to come, and they will not stand in judgment, as is said, 'In this wilderness they shall be consumed, and there they shall die.' "(422) The words of R. Akiba. R. Eliezer said, "of them He said, 'Gather my saints together unto me, those that have made a covenant with me by sacrifice.' "(423) "The congregation of Korah will not come up, as is said, 'And the earth closed upon them'(424) in this world. 'And they perished from among the congregation' in the world to come." The words of R. Akiba. R. Eliezer said, "of them he said, 'The Lord killeth and maketh alive; he bringeth down to the grave and bringeth up.' "(425) "The ten tribes will not return, as is said, 'And cast them into another land, as it is this day';(426) as the day departs and does not return, so they depart and do not return." The words of R. Akiba. R. Eliezer said, "as the day darkens and brightens, so will it be with the ten tribes; as it was dark for them, so will it be bright for them."

4. The men of a city withdrawn to idolatry have no portion in the world to come, as is said, "Certain men, the children of Belial, are gone out from among you and have withdrawn the inhabitants of their city,"(427) and they are not to be killed till the withdrawers be from the city itself and from the tribe itself, and till it withdraw the majority, and till the withdrawers be men. If the withdrawers be women, or children, or the minority be withdrawn, or the withdrawers be outside it, they are to be treated singly, and they need two witnesses, and a warning to each one of them. It is more grievous for individuals than for the mult.i.tude, because individuals must be stoned, though for that reason their money is safe for their heirs; but the mult.i.tude are cut off with the sword, and for that reason their money is lost.

5. "Thou shalt surely smite the inhabitants of that city,"(428) etc. A caravan of a.s.ses or camels pa.s.sing from place to place are delivered, as is said, "Destroying it utterly and all that is therein," etc. From thence they said, "the property of the righteous in it is lost, out of the city it is safe. But that of the wicked, whether inside or outside, is lost."

6. "And thou shalt gather all the spoil of it into the midst of the street thereof."(429) If it have no street, they must make a street for it. If there be a street outside of it, they bring it inside. "And shalt burn with fire the city and all the spoil thereof," its spoil but not the spoil of heaven. From thence they say, the holy things therein are to be redeemed, and the heave-offerings suffered to decay. The second t.i.thes and holy writings are to be concealed. "Every whit for the Lord thy G.o.d." Said R. Simon, "The Holy One, Blessed be He, said, If you execute judgment on the withdrawn city, I count it for you as though you brought a burnt-offering wholly before me." "And it shall be a heap forever; it shall not be built again." "Thou shalt not make of it even gardens or parks." The words of R. Jose, the Galilean. R. Akiba said, "it shall not be builded again. It must not be built as it was before, but it may be made (into) gardens and parks." "And there shall cleave naught of the cursed thing to thine hand."(430) Whilst the wicked are in the world, wrath is in the world. When the wicked are destroyed from the world, wrath retires from the world.

Chapter XI

1. These are to be strangled-he who beats his father or his mother, and he who steals a soul from Israel, and an "elder" who is rebellious against the judges, and a false prophet, and he who prophesies in the name of idolatry, and false witnesses proved to be perjured against a priest's daughter and her paramour. He who beats father or mother is not guilty till he make a bruise in them. It is more grievous to curse them than to beat them. Because if he cursed them after their death, he is guilty; but if he beat them after their death, he is free. He who stole a soul from Israel is not guilty till he bring him on his property. R. Judah said, "till he bring him on his property and obtain service by him," as is said, "And maketh merchandise of him, or selleth him."(431) "If he steal his own son?" R. Ishmael, the son of R. Jochanan, the son of Beroka, p.r.o.nounces him "guilty," but the sages p.r.o.nounce him "free." "If he stole one, half a servant and half free?" R. Judah p.r.o.nounces him "guilty," but the Sages p.r.o.nounce him "free."

2. The elder rebellious against the decision of the judges? as it is said, "If there arise a matter too hard for thee in judgment,"(432) etc. There were three places of judgment. One place was by the door of the Mountain of the House; and one was by the door of the court; and one was in the chamber of hewn stone. The witnesses against the rebellious elder came to the one by the door of the Mountain of the House, and each one said, "so I expounded, and so my companions expounded; so I taught, and so my companions taught." If the judges listened to them, they told them: but if not, they went to those at the door of the court, and each one said, "so I expounded, and so my companions expounded; so I taught, and so my companions taught." If they listened to them, they told them; but if not, both parties went to the supreme court in the chamber of hewn stone, because from it the Law proceeded forth to all Israel, as is said, "Of that place which the Lord shall choose."(433) "If the rebellious elder returned to his city, and taught as before?" "He is free." "But if he decided to practise false teaching?" "He is guilty," as is said, "And the man that will do presumptuously."(434) He is not guilty till he decide to practise his false teaching. A disciple who decided to practise false teaching is free. It follows that what is a grave offence in the one is a light offence in the other.

3. The burden in the words of the scribes is greater than the burden in the words of the law. He who said, "There are no phylacteries, so as to transgress the words of the law?" "He is free." He who said, "There are five frontlets, so as to add to the words of the scribes?" "He is guilty."

4. "The judges do not put such an offender to death in the tribunal of his city, nor in the tribunal of Jabneh,(435) but they bring him up to the supreme court in Jerusalem, and they guard him till a holiday; and they put him to death on a holiday, as is said, 'And all the people shall hear and fear, and do no more presumptuously.' "(436) The words of R. Akiba. R.

Judah said, "they do not cause him anguish in delaying his judgment, but they execute him off-hand." And they write and send messengers to all places, "Such a man, the son of such a man, is condemned to death by the tribunal."

5. A false prophet, who prophesied what he did not hear, and what was not told to him, is put to death by the hands of man. But he who suppressed his prophecy, and he who added to the words of a prophet, and a prophet who transgressed his own words, is put to death by the visitation of heaven, as is said, "I will require it of him."(437)

6. And he who prophesied in the name of idolatry and said, "so the idol said," even though its decision was exactly to p.r.o.nounce unclean the unclean, and to p.r.o.nounce cleansed the clean, is to be strangled. And so also the false witnesses against a priest's daughter. Because all false witnesses are condemned to the same death which they had intended (for the accused), except false witnesses against the daughter of a priest, and they are to be strangled.

On Idolatry(438)

Dealings with Idolaters-Idolatrous Feasts-Things Not to be Sold to Idolaters-Labor with Idolaters-The Letting Out of Houses and Fields-Precautions-Things Forbidden and Things Allowed-Idols and Fragments of Idols-Hills and Groves-Houses Joined to an Idol Temple-Idolatrous Trees-Image of Mercury-Annulling Idolatry-Pagan Argument for Idolatry-Answer-Treading-Pressing-Baking-Wine of Libation-Culinary Utensils.

Chapter I

1. Three days before the feasts of the idolaters it is forbidden to deal with them, to lend articles to them, or to take a loan of articles from them; to make a loan of money to them, or to borrow money from them; to repay them, or to take payment from them. Rabbi Judah said, "it is allowed to take payment from them, since it is unsatisfactory to the idolater."

The (Sages) answered him, "though it is unpleasant to him now, he rejoices afterward."

2. R. Ishmael said, "three days before and three days after their feasts it is forbidden." But the Sages say, "before their feasts it is forbidden, after their feasts it is allowed."

3. "And these are the feasts of the idolaters-the Kalends, and the Saturnalia, and the Quartesima, and the coronation day of their kings, and the day of their birth, and the day of their death." The words of R.

Meier. But the Sages say, "every death anniversary in which there is burning of incense,(439) there is in it the wors.h.i.+p of idols. But if there be no burning of incense there is no wors.h.i.+p of idols." "The day of shaving his beard and cutting his hair, the day of his disembarking from the sea, and the day of his release from prison, and the day when the heathen makes a feast for his son?" "It is not forbidden to deal with them save on this day of his feast, and with this man who keeps the feast only."

4. "The city in which there exists idolatry outside the city?" "It is allowed to deal with the idolaters." "If the idolatry be outside?" "Inside it is allowed." "How is it with going there?" "When the road directly leads to the place itself, it is forbidden; but if it be possible to go by it to another place, it is allowed."

5. "If in the city in which there exists idolatry there be shops, some decorated with idolatrous crowns, and some without decoration?" This was the case in Bethshan; and the Sages say, "the decorated ones are forbidden for dealing, and those not decorated are allowed."

6. These things are forbidden to be sold to idolaters-fir-cones, and the best figs, with their cl.u.s.ters, and incense, and the white c.o.c.k. R. Judah said, "it is allowable to sell a white c.o.c.k among many others. But when a man has only one, he must cut its claw before he sell it, since the heathen do not offer that which is blemished in idol wors.h.i.+p." And all other things for ordinary uses are allowed-but if they be declared to be for idolatry, they are forbidden. R. Meier said, "even the fine dates, and the date sap,(440) and the Jericho dates, are forbidden for sale to idolaters."

7. Where they are accustomed to sell small cattle to idolaters, they may sell them. Where they are unaccustomed to sell them, they must not sell them. And everywhere they must not sell to them the large cattle, calves, a.s.s foals, unblemished or blemished. R. Judah allowed the broken-boned; and Benbethira allowed even horses.

8. Men must not sell to them bears or lions, or anything in which there is peril to the mult.i.tude. They must not build with them royal halls,(441) judgment-seats, and stadiums,(442) and bemas.(443) But men may build with them altars and baths. When they reach to the arching in which they place their idol, it is forbidden to build farther.

9. And Israelites must not make decorations for idols, necklaces, and nose-rings, and rings. R. Eleazar said, "for pay it is allowed." Men must not sell to them what is fastened to the ground. But one may sell it after it is cut down. R. Judah said, "one may sell it to a heathen on condition that he cuts it down."

10. "Men must not let to them buildings(444) in the Land of Israel, and it is needless to say fields. But in Syria they may let to them buildings, but not fields. But out of the Land they may sell to them buildings, and may rent to them fields." The words of R. Meier. R. Jose said, "in the Land of Israel men may let to them buildings, but not fields. But in Syria they may sell buildings and rent fields to them, and out of the Land they may sell both." However, where they said to let, they did not say a dwelling-house; since a heathen can bring inside of it an idol, as it is said, "Thou shalt not bring in abomination into thy house."(445) And everywhere a man must not hire to a heathen his bath, because it is called by his name.

Chapter II

1. Israelites must not put cattle in the stables of idolaters, because of their evil habits. And a woman must not be alone with them, because of their evil habits. And no man should be alone with them, because they are apt to shed blood.

2. A daughter of Israel must not attend an idolatrous woman, because she helps the birth of a child for idolatry. But an idolatress may attend a daughter of Israel. A daughter of Israel must not suckle a child of an idolatress; but an idolatress may suckle a child of a daughter of Israel, under her observation.

3. "Israelites may take from them medicine to cure property; but not to cure persons. And they are not to be shaved by them anywhere." The words of R. Meier. But the Sages say, "under public observation it is allowed, but not entirely alone."

4. These things of the idolaters are forbidden, and every use of them is strictly forbidden; wine, and vinegar of the heathen which was at first wine, and Hadrian's mixture(446) with its fragments, and hides of animals with their hearts(447) (torn out). Rabbi Simon, the son of Gamaliel, said, "when the rent is round, it is forbidden, when lengthwise, it is allowed."

"The flesh brought in for idolatry is allowed; but that which is brought out is forbidden, because it is the sacrifice for the dead." The words of R. Akiba. It is forbidden to do business with those who go to wors.h.i.+p the Penates; but with those who return from them it is allowed. "The skin-bottles of the idolaters and their jugs into which Jewish wine is poured, are forbidden, and every use of them is strictly forbidden." The words of R. Meier. But the Sages say, "every use of them is not forbidden." "Grape-stones and grape-skins of the idolaters are forbidden, and every use of them is strictly forbidden." The words of R. Meier. But the Sages say, "when moist, they are forbidden; but when dry, they are allowed." "Fish-brine and the cheese from Bethuniki,(448) a village of the idolaters, are forbidden, and every use of them strictly forbidden." The words of R. Meier. But the Sages say, "every use of them is not forbidden." R. Judah related, that R. Ishmael asked R. Joshua, as they were journeying along the road-he said to him, "why do they forbid the cheese of idolaters?" He replied to him, "because they cause it to ferment with the stomach of a carca.s.s." R. Ishmael said to him, "and is not the stomach of a burnt-offering of more importance than the stomach of a carca.s.s," and it was said, "the priest who was so minded supped the milk that was in it," but the Sages did not agree with him, and they said, "the priests do not use it, and they are not guilty." He changed the conversation, and said to him, "because they ferment it with the stomach of a calf (devoted) to idolatry." He said to him, "if so, why do they not forbid it for every use?" He turned to another subject, and said to him, "brother Ishmael, how do you read, 'For thy love is better than wine,'(449) or 'For thy love is good'?" He replied to him, "For thy love is good." He said to him, "it is not so, since the next verse explains it, 'Because of the savor of thy good ointments.' "

5. These things of the idolaters are forbidden, but every use of them is not strictly forbidden; milk which a heathen milked, and an Israelite did not see it. "Their bread and oil?" "Rabbi and his colleagues allowed oil."

But the cookery, and the gravy into which they are wont to put wine and vinegar, and shred thunny fish, and the sauce in which the fish chalbith is not swimming, and the herring, and the essence of a.s.saftida, and spiced salt, are forbidden; but every use of them is not strictly forbidden.

6. These things are allowed for eating-milk which an idolater milked, and an Israelite saw, and honey and honeycomb, even if they are dropping, as they do not contain the effect of liquor,(450) and gravy into which they are not wont to put wine and vinegar, and shred thunny fish, and sauce in which there is the fish chalbith, and the leaf of the a.s.saftida, and olives crushed into round cakes. R. Jose said, "the kernels detached from the olives are forbidden." The locusts which they bring from their baskets(451) are forbidden; but those brought from their magazines are allowed. And even so is the decision for their heave-offerings.

Chapter III

1. "All images are forbidden, because they are wors.h.i.+pped once a year."

The words of R. Meier. But the Sages say, "only those are forbidden which have in their hand a staff, or bird, or ball." R. Simon, the son of Gamaliel, said, "all images which have in their hand anything whatever."

2. "If one find the broken pieces of images?" "They are allowed (for useful purposes)." "If one find the figure of a hand, or the figure of a foot?" "They are forbidden, because such as they are wors.h.i.+pped."

3. "(If one find) vessels on which is the form of the sun-disk, the form of the moon, the form of a dragon?" "They are to be carried into the Salt Sea."(452) R. Simon, the son of Gamaliel, said, "when such forms are on precious (vessels) they are forbidden, when they are on insignificant (ones) they are allowed."

4. R. Jose said, "one must grind the image to powder and scatter it to the wind, or cast it into the sea." The Sages said to him, "then it will make dung," and it is said, "And there shall not cleave to thy hand aught of the accursed thing."(453)

5. Proclus, the son of a philosopher, asked R. Gamaliel, in Acho,(454) as he was bathing in the bath of Venus, and said to him, "it is written in thy law, 'and there shall not cleave to thy hand aught of the accursed thing'; why dost thou bathe in the bath of Venus?" He said to him, "men do not give replies in the bath"; and when he came out he said to him, "I came not within its district; it came into my district." They did not say, "let us make a bath to the honor of Venus, but they said, let us make Venus an honor to the bath." Another thing: "if they gave thee money wouldst thou enter naked before thy idol, or wouldst thou do aught disgraceful in its presence? yet if it stands on a ca.n.a.l everyone dishonors it." It is not said, save for their heathen G.o.ds, "that which is customary from its being a G.o.d, is forbidden, that which is not customary from its being a G.o.d, is allowed."

6. Though idolaters wors.h.i.+p the mountains and the hills, the mountains and the hills are allowed, but what is upon them is forbidden; as is said, "Thou shalt not covet the silver and the gold upon them to take them."(455) R. Jose, the Galilean, said, "their G.o.ds of the mountains, but not the mountains their G.o.ds; their G.o.ds of the hills, but not the hills their G.o.ds." "But why are the groves forbidden?" "Because they are prepared by man's hands, and every object of idolatry which is prepared by man's hands is forbidden." Said R. Akiba, "I will consider and decide before thee; every place in which you find a high mountain, and an elevated hill, and a flouris.h.i.+ng tree, know that there is idolatry."